Electron-discharge device



June 5, 1928.

. 1,672,482 5. W. CROWLEY ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE Filed Jan. 1924 Mr mu I W INVENTOR SylvesTer W. Crowley 3 F I 74 '%NEY Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SYLVESTER W. CROWLEY, OF WEEHAWKEN,

NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO DE FOREST RADIO TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH 00., OF JEBSEY CI'IY, NEW'JERSEY, A CORPORA- TION OF DELAWARE.

, ELECTRON-DISCHARGE DEVICE.

Application filed January 7, 1924. Serial No. 684,790;

This invention relates to electron discharge device and more particularl to the plate therein and the mounting or said plate. 7

The objects of the invention are to provide a substantial plate and mounting so as to eliminate as far as possible vibrations and microphonic action; to provide a structure in which the application of the plate to its sup- 10 port may be readily accomplished; to provide a structure wherein the plate and its suppprt may be fastened together and thus secure both positive electric connection and a Ilgld construction; to avoid extra parts or utilization of any devices which would have a dotrimental effect upon the plate or associated parts; to provide means for strengthening the plate and retaining the same thereby in proper sha e; to provide a bulged middle portion of t e plate; to to remain at substantially equal distance throughout its area from the grid; to utilize portions of the plate itself for reenforcmg the plate; to thus avoid application of separate reenforcing means; to secure simplicit of construction, operation and assembly; an to obtain other advantages and results as may be brought out in the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views;

Figure 1 is an elevation of an electron discharge device with portions of the bulb broken away disclosing my invention therein;

Figure 2. is a perspective view of the plate; Figure 3 is a plan view of the plate; and 40 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the stem and several supports issuing therefrom.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawing, reference numeral 1 indicates the bulb of an electron discharge. device integral with which is a stem 2, the bulb and stem being properly mounted within a base 3. Issuing from the inner end of the stem are a plurality of wires or en ports. In the precise showing ex p empli ed'n the drawing I have shown a su port-4 at the middle of the stem which is 0 set laterally and is provided at the top a transverse book 5. At opposite Sides 6, 6, to which the ends of a hairpin filament ends or prongs thus enable the plate top mount t e plate 13 in place, I

of the centralsupport 4 are terminal wires 7 are attached, the looped portion'of said filament being supported by hook 5 on support 4. At opposite sides of the filament termlnal 6 are two more fires 8, 8, issuing from the stem in the same general plane as the other wires, said wires 8 being offset transversely so as to provide upper parallel 9 which are further apart than the distance between the wires where they 1ssue from the stem, but in the same plane. These prongs 9, 9, support a grid 10, (only a portion of which I have shown). Beyond wires 8, 8, and issuing from the stem are two outside Wires 11, 11, likewise in the same plane with the rest of the wires and offset transversely a greater distance than wires 8, 8, so as to provide parallel supports 0r prongs 12, 12 in the same plane with the other wires and prongs. Upon these last mentioned prongs 12, 12 15 mounted plate 13,. Said plate preferably consists of a single piece of metal bent in substantially rectangular formation, open at and bottom. In one direction the plate s narrow so as to be close to the grid and in the other direc ion it is wide enough to extend from one of the outside prongs 12 to the other and can be slid downwardly w1th its end walls between prongs 9 and 12 in engagement with both of the outside prongs 12, 12. Furthermore, the plate is prefer ably of a height substantially equal to the length of the offset portions or pron 12, as clearl shown in Figure 1. In or er to referably stamp outwardly from end wal s 14, 14, thereof, portions of metal to provide eyelets 15. Said eyelets are arranged so as to be in alignment longitudinally of the said end walls and of sufiicient size to permit the rongs 12 to be inserted therein. Accord: ingly, inassembling the device, the plate is slid downwardly onto prongs 12, 12, with the said prongs passing through theoutstanding eyelets on the end walls which are in engagement with said rongs. To comlete the assembly, I pre erab y spot weld rongs, doing this in a num r of places, t rough the eyeletsand elsewhere, in order to be assured that there 5 is a p tive union betwefirthe parts both the late upon the for the purpose of preventing the plate from coming off or rattling, and for the purpose of obtaining positive electrical contact.

In the manufacture of the plate, I referably weld the seam 16 where the e ges of the metal overlap so there will be no opportunity for the plate to spread or for the end portions to spring away from the grid. It is to be observed that the particular shape of the plate whichhas so far been described provides narrow end Walls 14 which cooperate with the larger faces 17 to-reenforce the same and prevent bowing at their edges inwardly or outwardly in a vertical direction.

In order to retain the shape of the faces 17 in a transverse direction, I preferably bend the top and bottom margins of said faces outwardly as clearly shown in Figure 2 so as to provide outstanding flanges 18, 18 in a plane transverse to the longitudinal direction of the end walls 14.- In manufacture of plates in accordance with my invention,

-the said faces 17 of the plate, while prevented from bulging or bowing at their side edges, are made to bulge or curve from side to side, and the top and bottom flanges are likewise arcuate in shape so as to maintain the curvature or bulging of the plate. It is found that by so doing, the devices increase very materially in effectiveness. The probable cause is that the grid has a corresponding bulge and by bulging the plate also, the space or gap between late and grid is kept closer to a constant. (gbviously the bulge in the opposite larger faces 17 results in the distance between the same increasing toward vthe vertical center of the plate, but at any end Wall and have shown; reenforcemenb only at the outer ed es of the larger faces of the plate, it is to e understood that the exact number or position of these parts is not restricted to the precise showing. I deem it within the scope of the invention to both vary the number, size and position of these parts as may be found necessary or desirable.

Gbviously other detail changes and modifications may be made in the manufacture of my improved electron discharge 'device, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact structure shown except as set forth in the following claims when construed in the light of the prior alt.

- Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An electron discharge device havin a. plate in the form of a four sided open ended box having two narrow and two broad sides said broad sides being slightly bulged and flanges on the bulged edges for strengthening said bulged sides.

2. An electron discharge device including a hollow plate member with four substantially rectangular sides two of which are bulged outwardly and flanged edges for reinforcing the whole member.

SYLVESTER W. CROWLEY 

